Are Church Offering Declarations Biblical?

Type of Doctrine: Typically Secondary or Tertiary

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

-2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV throughout)

Why Does It Matter?

Church offering declarations are used by some churches—especially those with leanings towards the Word of Faith and prosperity “gospel” beliefs. What are they? Are they biblical? When did churches begin using them?

Although worship liturgy is typically thought of as a secondary or tertiary issue, some of the content in offering declarations can venture into some very troubled theological waters (i.e., perhaps even primary issues).

What Is It?

I was first exposed to offering declarations many years ago. They were used in a church worship service that I attended. What are they?

Let's start with a brief description: Offering declarations are used at some churches before taking an offering (i.e., giving money to the church). They are often brief readings which declare health, wealth, and success. Often the entire church recites them together.

Offering declarations are brief readings which declare health, wealth, and success. They are often recited together before taking an offering.

Before we examine offering declarations, I must give a preliminary note on the main sources used below. I will be quoting the offering declarations put forth by Bethel Church. I'm not intending to pick on Bethel Church specifically here; rather I am evaluating the practice and content of offering declarations. However, I have heard similar declarations used at other churches—some churches even use the same ones verbatim. Bethel Church publicly places these offering declarations on their website—which, for our purposes, helps in precision for quotations and evaluation.

The following section will provide some examples of offering declarations. Many declarations clearly have Word of Faith or prosperity theology as their foundation. Some, however, are simply bizarre statements and even problematic beliefs (e.g., declaring that God is in a good mood; repentance from poverty and small thinking; the gospel successfully moving forth based on our finances; Jesus getting his "full reward" based on our financial abundance and labor).

Here is the full text of offering reading #1 given by Bethel Church:

As we receive today’s offering,
We are believing the Lord for:

Jobs and better jobs
Raises and bonuses
Benefits
Sales and commissions
Favorable settlements
Estates and inheritances

Interests [sic] and income
Rebates and returns
Checks in the mail
Gifts and surprises
Finding money
Debts paid off
Expenses decrease
Blessing and increase

Thank You, Lord,
for meeting all of my financial needs
that I may have more than enough
to give into the Kingdom of God
and promote the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah![1]

Second, here is a strange section from offering reading #2:

Thank You, Father,
That as I join my value system to Yours,
You will shower favor, blessings
and increase upon me
So I have more than enough
To co-labor with Heaven
And see Jesus get His full reward.[2]

Next, here is an odd section from offering reading #3:

Repentance from poverty,
small thinking, and envy.[3]

Finally, here are a few bizarre quotes from offering reading #4:

I am powerful
And what I believe changes the world
So today I declare

God is in a good mood
He loves me all the time[4]

And also this line is worth noting:

Everywhere I go becomes a perfect-health zone[5]

Are offering declarations biblically rooted?

There are three main ways that I would like to examine this topic biblically: (1) liturgy; (2) Word of Faith theology; and (3) giving.

• Liturgy: In the New Testament, a particular church worship liturgy is not prescribed. Therefore, I believe there is freedom for churches to adopt their preferred liturgy. Obviously, churches should not incorporate unbiblical liturgy or unbiblical content in their services. I also prefer historic liturgies that have depth and considerable biblical basis. One's view on the regulative principle and normative principle can affect this decision. (In short, the regulative principle claims that churches can only incorporate in worship what is mentioned in Scripture. However, the normative principle claims that churches must incorporate what is mentioned in Scripture and can also include what is not mentioned in Scripture as long as it is not forbidden.)

• Word of Faith theology concerns: However, the concept of declarations alone seems to be based on Word of Faith theology, which I find profoundly unbiblical. The basic idea is that one's words have creative power, and when combined with faith, they work together to make health, wealth, and success appear in one's life.

• Giving: To summarize, we are never told in Scripture to declare when we give so that we will receive. Here are some significant passages on giving:

  • Give in secret (Matthew 6:2-4).

  • Give sacrificially (Mark 12:42-44).

  • Give generously (Luke 6:30).

  • Give with the motive of love (1 Corinthians 13:3).

  • Give regularly based on what God has given you (1 Corinthians 16:2).

  • Give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

  • Give to the poor and those in need (James 2:15-16).

Therefore, I conclude that offering declarations are unbiblical.

Are offering declarations historically rooted?

The historic church liturgy included an offertory which meant presenting the bread and wine to be used for the Eucharist. During this portion of the worship service, "congregants may also present material and monetary gifts for the church's ministry and provision. Depending on the era, these offerings might be made by the men of the church first coming forward, followed by women doing the same."[6] In ancient church worship services, the offering took place around the time of the Lord's Supper. It didn't have anything to do with declarations.

Now, let's consider the historicity of offering declarations. Since offering declarations are heavily based on Word of Faith theology, perhaps it would be helpful to visit the origins of this movement. The Word of Faith movement began with E. W. Kenyon in the early 1900s (who likely combined metaphysical ideas with Christianity).[7] Therefore, it is highly unlikely that offering declarations existed in worship services prior to the early 1900s. In fact, I cannot find evidence that offering declarations were used prior to the late 20th century or early 21st century. They seem to be a very recent trend!

Therefore, I conclude that offering declarations are not historically rooted in church history.

Final Reflections

To summarize and conclude, I have put four reflections below.

First, I struggle with the concept of declarations itself. The word "declarations" suggests Word of Faith theology (which is profoundly unbiblical). Instead, I would prefer prayer where we speak to God (but obviously with a humble tone and biblical content rather than making declarations to him).

Second, I am concerned with the content of these declarations. There seems to be an obsession with health, wealth, and success (i.e., the so-called prosperity "gospel"). I do not believe this is biblical.

Third, I was stunned to discover the absence of these declarations in worship liturgy in church history. Not only do I find them profoundly unbiblical, but I also do not find them used in worship liturgy throughout most of church history.

Fourth, I am alarmed, and even shudder, as I think about all of the ways that these declarations may manipulate, teach incorrect ideas, and produce guilt.

Thus, I not only have biblical and historical concerns, but I also have practical pastoral concerns about offering declarations.

End Notes:

[1] "Offering Readings," Bethel Church, accessed August 31,2026, https://www.bethel.com/offering-readings.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 31-32.

[7] Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009), 15-16.